Take Two

CHAPTER 48

Carolyn knocked on the door to Sinead O’Brien’s office. There was a plastic sign with her name and, underneath it, CASTING. ‘It’s open,’ called Sinead.

Carolyn opened the door. Sinead was texting on her BlackBerry and she looked up and smiled when she saw Carolyn. ‘Give me a minute,’ she said. ‘I’m trying to get an Asian model with short hair.’

Carolyn nodded and sat down. There were whiteboards all around the walls of Sinead’s office plastered with photographs of actors and actresses. In pride of place behind the desk was the whiteboard containing the pictures of the main characters on the show with Carolyn and Seb’s head and shoulders in the centre.

‘Okay, done,’ said Sinead. ‘How the hell are you? Haven’t seen you for days.’

‘I’m fine,’ said Carolyn. ‘Just wanted to pick your brains. Fancy a cigarette break? I’ve got a pass for fifteen minutes.’

Sinead nodded enthusiastically. ‘I’m gasping,’ she said. She grabbed her cigarettes and lighter and followed Carolyn outside.

There were half a dozen people in the designated smoking area but they found a spot where they couldn’t be overhead. They lit their cigarettes and both inhaled gratefully.

Carolyn liked Sinead. She was from Belfast and had black hair and blue eyes and a figure that showed her love of Italian food cooked by her Italian husband, a talented chef with whom she’d had two children. ‘You want to ask me about yesterday’s meeting, don’t you,’ she said.

‘Am I that transparent?’ asked Carolyn.

‘You haven’t said a word to me in four weeks,’ she said. ‘I figured you must want something.’

‘I’m sorry. I just don’t know who else I can talk to.’

‘Really? I thought you had an in with that new writer, Jeff.’

‘Why do you say that?’

‘Because he was singing your praises. He almost got to blows with Simon Hastings.’

Hastings was the lead writer on the show. ‘About what?’

‘I’m not supposed to talk about the meeting,’ she said.

‘What, it’s turning into Fight Club, is it?’

Sinead laughed. ‘I’ll tell you, of course I will, but mum’s the word and you didn’t hear anything from me.’

Carolyn had a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. She was certain she was going to hear bad news. ‘Sure. Of course.’

Sinead blew a plume of smoke up into the leaden sky before continuing. ‘Hastings wants a clear out of the cast. He wants to bring in new blood. He thinks a young cast will boost ratings.’

‘Shit,’ said Carolyn.

‘Jeff said he thought you were a vital part of the cast and that your character should be at the forefront of any storylines.’

‘That was nice of him.

‘Carolyn and Jeff, sitting in a tree,’ sang Sinead. ‘K-I-S-S-I-N-G.’

‘Very funny,’ said Carolyn.

‘Seriously, he’s a fan. And Sally is, too.’

‘Now that surprises me,’ said Carolyn.

‘No, seriously. Sally is right behind you. Lisa was siding with Hastings and I think they had a power play thing going on. Oh, and that little runt, Martin, is with them. He really has something against you.’

‘Does he now?’

Sinead nodded. ‘He said you couldn’t act your way out of a paper bag, but you didn’t hear that from me. He wants you to go out in a blaze of glory, a car inferno or a rape-murder.’

Carolyn gritted her teeth. ‘Bastard.’

‘Don’t worry, Sally knocked that straight back. But you need to watch Martin, he’s got it in for you. And with him, Lisa and Hastings on your back, you’ve got a rough road ahead of you.’ She flicked ash away.

‘I had a feeling something like this was going to happen. So where do I stand?’

‘Sally’s allowing the writers to introduce new characters. And Andrea is going to get a big push. But you and Seb will stay centre stage, for the next three months anyway. At that point, they’ll talk to focus groups and see how the new characters are being received.’

‘That’s better than nothing, I suppose.’

‘Sally’s in your corner, and Jeff is keen to write for you. And you know Paul is on your side.’ Sinead took a long pull on her cigarette.

Carolyn sighed. ‘It’s a nasty business, isn’t it?’

‘TV? Always has been. But it’s worse now that the network controls everything. These days you only have to piss off one set of suits and your career is over. But seriously, Carolyn. Sally is on your side.’

‘Until the focus groups start saying they want more teenagers. Then she’ll have me out of the door faster than you can say Holby City.’ She dropped her cigarette butt onto the ground and stamped on it. ‘Still, I’ve got three months.’

‘And a lot can happen in three months. Network executives come and go, you know that.’

Carolyn nodded. ‘Thanks for the pep talk. And thanks for the info.’